Having not pitched in Major League action since September 24 of 2014, Justin Verlander looked pretty decent in his 2015 debut. Sporting a nicely groomed beard, the 32-year-old right-hander worked rather efficiently though five innings for the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
It was 10 years ago in July that a 22-year-old Verlander made his MLB debut for the Tigers back in 2005. Like today, that start came against the division rival Cleveland Indians. Verlander fared much better today in his season debut though than he did a decade ago in his career debut, a 6-0 loss to the Indians.
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Today against the Tribe, Verlander was handed a no-decision, using 87 pitches to work through five innings of two-run ball. The six-time All-Star allowed five base total runners, two earned runs and struck out two. He left with a 3-2 lead intact. Easing him back into play is the obvious approach by manager Brad Ausmus, but watching his pitch counts more closely might be beneficial in the long-term as well. Before struggling through 2014, Verlander led the American League in innings pitched three of the previous five seasons. That workload likely had negative implications with regards to his recent dip in velocity.
For the Detroit Tigers, his return could not have come at a better time. Presently flirting with .500, the club relinquished the AL Central division lead to the Kansas City Royals back on May 16 and have not regained it since. The Minnesota Twins are currently in second place. After today’s loss, the Tigers move to 4-6 in the month of June.
Coming off that down 2014 year by Verlander where concerns about a dead arm frequently circled the city of Detroit, the Tigers needed his 2015 return to be both motivating and exciting. And it was. Verlander’s fastball in his 2011 Cy Young campaign sat at 95 mph all season. Last year, when he posted a 4.54 ERA and opposing hitters coasted to a .275 BAA (.320 BAbip), his fastball was sitting at only 93.1 mph. A tricep injury in the spring which led to his lengthy stay on the disabled list brought about more cause for concern.
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It’s only one of what Tigers fans hope will be many promising starts to come by Verlander in 2015, but it’s nonetheless a step in the right direction. His hardest thrown fastball touched as high as 97 mph on the radar gun Saturday versus Cleveland. It came in his fifth and final frame of action after his arm had been plenty warm for awhile.
With Anibal Sanchez seeming to have worked his way out of a terrible May where he went 2-3 with a 5.97 ERA and Shane Greene being ugly so far in June (0-2, 11.05), Verlander’s return to the rotation is huge for baseball in Detroit. Joining the rotation two months into the season leaves some room for improvement on his velocity and command this season, but the key for the veteran will be to simply complement David Price on the pitching staff for the remainder of the season.
With Verlander back, Victor Martinez set to begin a rehab assignment on Monday and Joakim Soria being a godsend for them at closer this season, the Detroit Tigers are in good shape as they close in on baseball’s second half and a quest for their fifth straight postseason appearance.
Saturday’s __-__ loss still gives Alfredo Simon (6-3, 2.76) the opportunity to contribute a win and take two-of-three from Cleveland this series, who will send defending AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber (3-7, 3.53) to the mound on Sunday.